The move appeared to be a startling about-face for Putin, but a Kremlin spokesman stressed it did not mean a terrorist attack was the leading theory as investigators analyze the wreckage. (RIA NOVOSTI/REUTERS)

And sections of the plane already have been transported to Moscow so investigators can test them for possible traces of explosives, Russian news agencies reported Friday.

The Kremlin's flight suspensions are expected to affect thousands of Russians already inside the popular vacation destination and devastate Egypt's tourism industry.

American and British officials previously said intelligence reports based on internal Islamic State communications point to a strong possibility terrorists somehow gained access to the doomed plane before takeoff and planted a bomb or did something to cause the Airbus to break apart at some 31,000 feet.

The UK and Ireland grounded flights to Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday, and evacuation of stranded tourists has proved difficult.

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British and Russian passengers line up to leave the Sharm el-Sheikh airport Friday. (ASMAA WAGUIH/REUTERS)

London approved the resumption of British flights to Sinai starting Friday and planned a wave of flights to pick up passengers — but authorities reportedly asked travelers to leave most of their luggage behind for intensive searching and later transport on cargo planes.

The luggage issue reportedly caused chaos at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport Friday and led Eyptian officials to scale back the number of British flights sent to retrieve tourists.

A former senior official in Egypt's Tourism Ministry, Magdy Salim, told the Associated Press that Egyptian airport security is marred by "insufficiencies."

"A stray donkey was found in Cairo airport a few months ago," he said. "We understand why people are scared."

Air France said in a statement to the AP on Friday that it was reinforcing screening in Cairo and monitoring the situation in cooperation with Egyptian authorities.

French officials urged citizens on Friday to avoid Sharm el-Sheikh and also the Sinai resort of Taba if possible.